Gem-clamping device for an article of jewelry.



J. DRIGGOTT. GEM CLAMPING DEVICE FOR AN ARTICLE OF JEWELRY.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 18, I915.

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QM v EH 1: TED sr PATEN @FW JosErH DEIGGo'rT, or CHICAGO, ILLINoIs.

GEM-CLAMPING DEVICE Eon AN ARTICLE or JEWELRY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

. Application filed December 18, 1915. Serial No. 67,493.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH Dnroco'r'r, a subject of the Czar of Russia, and a resident of the city of Ghicagofin the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Gem-ClampingDevice for an Article of Jewelry; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements articles of jewelry, such as finger rlngs, and

more particularly to that type of finger rings that are set with single stones or, gems, or other ornamental pieces of like character.

Among the objects of my invention is to improve the construction of settings in finger rings of the kind referred to and to provide in particular a clamping device for removably holding a gem or stone in the mounting of the ring.

A clamping device embodying the features of my inventioncomprises a split or circumferentially contractible, annular clamping member, which has pivotal connection with the ring on the inside thereof, and which clamping member may be swung into and out of clamping engagement with the gem or stone set in said ring for the purpose of per,

mitting said gem'or stone to be readily removed from the'ring when desired, and'be replaced by a stone of the same or different grade and coloroto meet the wishes of the wearer. l

The invention consists further in the matters hereinafter described and more particu- 1 larly set out in the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevational view, with parts in sec tion, of an article of jewelry, such asa finger ring of the type referred to and having applied thereto aclamping device constructed in accordance with my invention, for removably holding the gemor stone in said ring; Fig.2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the parts shown in Fig. 1, except that the clamping device is'shown swung into a position out of clamping engagement with the gem or stone; Fig.3 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of'my clamping device removed from the ring; and Fig. 4 is a horiin zontal sectional view taken online' il of Fig.1. Y

in the ring by a clamping device embodying A the features of my invention. As illustrated, said ring 10 is provided with a low setting, that is, the gem or stone 11 is set so that its outer face is'substantially flush with the outer face of the ring. Said gem or stone 11 is set in an aperture or hole 12 extending vertically through the front portion or mounting '13 of said ring. Said aperture 12 opens into the inside of the ring, and the outer edge thereof is in the form of an inwardly projecting, overhanging, annular flange 14, against which said stone 11 bears when inserted into said aperture from the inside of said ring. Said gem or stone 11 is inserted into and removed from said aper- Patented May 9, 1916.

ture 12 from the inside of the ring, and, in

clamping device comprises a split annular. clamping member 16 adapted to be inserted I nto and removed-from said aperture 12 from the inside of the ring. Saidclampingmember 16-is provided with a laterally extending shank or stem 17 the outer or free endof which is secured, by a transversely arranged ivot pin 18, to the ring lO on the inside thereof. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the

tends to one sideof said aperture 12 and is curved longitudinally soas to fit against the inner curved surface of the ring, when said clamping member 16 is swung into the aperture and against the under side of the gem or stone; 11 therein. Said ring 10 is also provided in the inner surface thereof with a parts areal-ranged so that said shank 17 eX- groove or recess 19 of a length substantially equal to and adapted to receive said shank 17 so that the latter will be flush with the inner surface of the ring, when the clamping member 16 is swung into saidaperture 12. As shown, said groove 19 opens at one end into said aperture 12 at the base or inner edge thereof and, furthermore, opens throughout its length into the inside of the ring, so that the shank 17may be readily and easily swung circumferentially. The normal or I mum diameter of said clampmg member 16' is substantially equal to or slightly greater than the diameter of said aperture 12, and, when swung thereimsaid clamping member 16, by reason of its contractibility and resiliency, tightly bears against the walls of the aperture and holds the stone 11 therein and against said flange 14. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4:, said clamping member 16 is provided adjacent one of its split ends with an outwardlylbulged part or boss 20 adapt ed to-snap into a suitable recessor hole 20 formed in the walls of said aperture 12, and. aid in holding the clamping member 16 therein. In order to prevent the clamping member '16 from coming into contact with theinside or lower edge ofsaid aperture when swung therein, the latter is provided, With a recess 21 openlng into said aperture opposite said groove 19. The wallsof'said recess are curved transversely and inclined outwardly substantially in an arc of the circledefining the path of:swinging movement" of the clamping member 16.

The device herein. described and, shown is used and operated as follows: To place and clamp a stone or gem ll in saidaperture 12, the clamping device 15 is swung into .its opener non-clamping position, as shownlin Fig. 2. A gem or stone of the proper size is then inserted or dropped into said aperture 12 from the inside of the ring l0,- the. latter at this time being preferably in an. inverted position. The clamping member 16 is then swung into said aperture 12 and against the under side of the gem or stone therein. To remove the stone 11, in

case the latter becomesfinjured or damaged while inv the ring, or in case it is desired to replace'the stone in use by another one of the same sizebut of a different value or color as determined by the dictates of the wearer, an inwardly directed pressure is applied against the outer face of the stone. Under such pressure the stone is forced inwardly, and the clamping member 16 swung out of the aperture 12 and into the position shown in Fig. 2. In this position of the parts, the stone may be readily removed or withdrawn from the aperture 12 from the inside of the ring 10, and another stone substituted therefor and clamped in the aperture by swinging the clamping member 16 back into the same.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the outer annular edge 22 of the split clamping mem -r ber 16 engages the under side of the stone 11, and such edge is preferably beveled or inclined complementary to the inclined under surface of said stone, so that. the clamping member will bear properly against the 5 stone and prevent cutting or injuring the same as would be the case if such edge were a sharp one. I

in use astone or gem of substantially the same size, but of a character diiferent in color or value from-the one in use. Furthermore, the clamping devlce having pivotal connection with the-ring is always connected with the ring whether in clamping or in non-clamping position, and therefore it is not necessary to completely remove the clamping device from the ring when it is desired to remove a stone therefrom. Moreover, said clamping device having pivotal connection with the ring, the stone may be set and removed withoutrequiring the aid of a jeweler or other expert, as no tools of any kind are necessary to insert or remove a stone from the ring. Then again, my clamping device is simple in its construe tion and operation, and is inexpensive to make and install in a ring. With aring pro- ..vided with my clamping device, a series of stones or gems of different colors may be used, with the same ring, and thereby enable the wearer to readily and easily setm' the ring any one of the stones whenever desired.

In the drawings I have shown my device as being applied to a finger ring, but it is from the spirit and scope of my invention, andI do not wish to be limited and con fined to the particular details of construction' and arrangement of parts illustrated,

except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim as my invention: 7 1. The combination with an article of'jewelry having a gem or-stone receiving opening, the latter having a side wall and provided at one end with an inwardly extending part, of a clamping device forremovably holding the gem or stone insaid 0pening and comprising a contractibleclamping member adapted to be inserted in saidopenmg, engage the side wallthereof beneath the gem or stone, and hold the'latter against said inwardly extending part, and means for pivotally connecting said clamping memher with said articleof jewelry, so that said clamping member may be swung into and out of said opening.

2. The combination with an article of jewelry having a gem or stone receiving opening, the latter having a side wall and provided at one end with an inwardly extending part, of a clamping device for removably holding the gem or stone in said open-' ing and comprising a contractible clamping member adapted to be inserted in said opening, engage the side wall thereof beneath the gem or stone, and hold the latter against said inwardly extending part, and said clamping member being provided with a shank having pivotal connection with said article of jewelry, sothat said clamping member may be swung into and out of said opening.

3. The combination with an article of j ewelry having a gem or stone receiving opening, the latter having a side wall and provided at one end with an inwardly extending part, of a clamping device for removably holding the gem or stone in said opening and comprising a contractible clamping member adapted to be inserted in said opening, engage the side wall thereof beneath the gem or stone, and hold the latter against ing part, of a clamping device for removg ably holding the gem or stone in said opening and comprising a contractible clamping member adapted to be inserted in said opening, engage the side wall thereof beneath the gem or stone, and hold the latter against said inwardly extending part, said side wall being provided with a recess, said clamping member being provided with a boss or projec-tion adapted to enter said recess, and means for pivotally connecting said clamping member with said article of jewelry, so that said clamping member may be swung into and out of said opening.

5. The combination with an article of jewelry having a gem or stone receiving opening, the latter having a side wall and provided at one end with an inwardly-projecting annular flange, of a clamping device for removably holding the gem or stone in said opening'and comprising a circumferentially contractible clamping member adapted to be inserted into said opening, engage the side "wall thereof beneath the gem or stone, and

hold the same against said flange, and said clamping member being provided with a laterally extending shank having pivotal connection with said article of jewelry, so

a that said clamping member may be'swung into and out of said opening.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention, 1 aiiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses, this 15th day of December A. D. 1915.

JOSEPH DRIGGOTT. Witnesses:

' EUGENE C. WANN, C. F. POOLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

'Washington, D. G. 

